Method of treating hydrocarbons



ril 12' 1927. A? w. M. 020% METHOD OF TREATING HYDROCARBONS r 5% M gm Original Filed June 1, 1915 O O O O O O What 77/. am bameof-ww Patented Apr. 12, 1927. f

UNITED STATES I 1,624,889 PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER M. CROSS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 1E0 GASOLINE PRODUCTS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

METHOD OF TREATING HYDROCARBONS.

Application filed June 1, 1915, Serial No. 31,43

This invention relates to improvements in method of treating hydrocarbons and products derived therefrom and more particularly to a process by means of which gasoline and other low boiling point hydrocarbons can be produced from residuum, distillate slops and kerosene.

Among the salient objects of the invention are to provide a process adapted for 10 economically and efliciently changing heavy unmarketable hydrocarbons into gasoline or other readily. marketable hydrocarbons; to provide a process in which the noncondensable gases can be removed from the apparatus during treatment and the remaining products of conversion retained in the ap-v paratus and subjected to the pressure and temperature desired; to provide a process in which the noncondensable gases can be intermittently or continuously taken off and used as fuel for both heating and power purposes either in running this apparatus or others; to provide a process in which the hydrocarbons treated are subjected in a 2 nearly closed vessel to comparatively high temperature andpressure and the treatment continued for a length of time sufficient to permit the products of conversion to become stable; toprovide a method of treating hydrocarbons in a nearly closed vessel in which the percentage of yield of gasoline or other desired product is increased by the removal of the noncondensable gases so as to provide greater vapor space for the condensable gases; and in general to provide a new and improved process for producing gasoline or other marketable hydrocarbons from residuums, kerosene or other hydrocarbons which may be unmarketable.

40 In the drawing:

The single figure is a side elevation of air apparatus capable of carrying out my process. V i

In the particular embodiment of my invention shown in the drawing,-and describing first in detail the apparatus, 1 designates a furnace, in which is located a series of tubes 2, connected to a hollow end plate 3. Opening into the lower portion of the end plate 3 is an inlet 4 connected to a source of supply in a manner hereinafter described in detail and at its upper end the hollow plate 4 is connected by a conduit 5 with a convertertank 6. Leading from the latter at a plane below that of the end 7 of the Renewed January 4, 1922. Serial No. 527,049.

pipe 5 is a pair of discharge-pipes 8 and 9, the former of which forms a discharge conduit for the treated product. The pipe 9 is connected by a-T-coupling 10 to the supply pipe 11, and the inlet pipe 4. The latter is provided with a rotary pump 12 driven by a motor 13, both of which are mounted on a common base 15. Communication between the pipes 9 and 4 is controlled-by a shutofl being started the oil in the pipes 2 will heat and is circulated from the convertertank to the heating pipes and back by means of the pump. 12 which forces the oil to circulate rapidly through the entire apparatus; As the temperature increases vapor starts to come off from the body of the oil and accumulates in the converter tank 6, and as there is no means for the conden'sable gases to escape, it is obvious that the pressurevin the apparatus will also rise. The rocess above described is carried on until t e temperature reaches the point at which the hydrocarbons formed of relatively heavy molecular weight break up into a much larger number of hydrocarbons of relatively small molecular weight. The temperature at which this reaction occurs varies with different hydrocarbons. At a temperature of between 750 to 1,000 F. substantial cracking will almost invariably occur. When this temperature isreached it will be noticed that there is an-excessive rise in pressure relative to the rise in temperature and it is at or just slightly above this temperature that the process is continued until theproducts of conversion get into equilibriumso that there would no longer bean excessive rise in pressure in proportion to the rise in temperature.

During the generation of the vapors there is alarge amount of noncondensable gases formed which naturally increase the pressure and interfere with the conversion products coming off of the' liquid. I have, therefore, provided means for permitting the escape of the noncondensable gases, that is,

those gases which are not condensable at 7 0 degrees C. The apparatus for the escape of the gases is as follows:

Leading from the upper endof the conerter tank 6 is a pipe 18 having an elbow ,fitting 19, to one side of which is connected a weighted safety valve 20. At its upper end this pipe 18 is connected to a condensing coil 21 which passes through a cooling tank 22 and at its outer end discharges into the pipe 23. Water or other suitable cooling medium is supplied to the tank 22 through an inlet 24 and discharged through an outlet 25 in the usual manner. By regulating the temperature of the cooling medium and the size of the opening through which the gases must pass, it is possible to discharge into the pipe 23 "only those gases which are noncondensable at any predetermined temperature.

However, I preferably regulate the con densing action so that only the normally noncondnsable gases suitable for illumi nating or heating purposes are permitted to pass into the pipe 23. As shown in the drawing, this pipe has an elbow 26 into which connect pipes 27 and 28. The latter forms a connection with the gas storage tank 29 and also With the furnace pipe 30. Suitable shutolfvalves 31, 32, 33, and 34 control the passage of the gas through the various pipes. When the shutoff valve 34 is opened and the valves 32 and 33 closed, the gas can be conducted through the pipe 27 to the burner or other apparatus employed in the refinery or conducted away for any other use. However, 1 preferably employ a portion of the gas escaping past the condenser, as a fuel supply for the furnace 1.

This process whereby the noncondensable gases are permitted to escape from the otherwise closed apparatus is an important feature of my invention. It has been found by actual test that the percentage of gasoline secured in a single treatment of the hydrocarbons in the converter 6 is increased about 10% by permitting the noncondensable gases to escape.

In use, the apparatus is filled as previously described, and the residuum or other oil subjected to heat until the pressure gauge, 35 shows that the pressure is rising rapidly. The operator then opens the valve 31 and permits the escape of the noncondensable gases. This valve 31 can be opened and closed at intervals or it can be just slightly cracked so that the escape of gases while continuous is sufficiently slow to permit the escape in proportion to their formation. By increasing the size of the opening and changing the condensing temperature it would be possible to also take off gasoline or any other light hydrocarbon. The apparatus is however preferably so proportioned and regulated that only the normally noncondensable gases can escape, as this permits the condensable gases being retained in contact with those in the liquid phase a suflicient length of time to destroy any free olefines. The removal of the noncondensable gases allows the condensable gases a larger space in which to accumulate While the process is being carried out.

After the heating and circulating of the liquid has been continued until the process is finished, the resultant product is drawn off through the outlet pipe 36. The completion of the process is readily determined by those skilled in the art. The process is completed when the hydrocarbons have been subjected to the reacting conditions suiticiently long to convert a substantial proportion of the heavy hydrocarbons to lighter hydrocarbons. The time of treatment, of course, will vary with the oil used. The product of this conversion process will, if the heat treatment has been continued long enough, then be conducted to a still and subjected to the same treatment that the crude oil is in refining. If the treatment in the converter has been continued far enough a relatively large percentage of gasoline having an end point of 300 F. will be formed. While I have described the process with reference to making gasoline from.

residuum, it is obvious that kerosene, dis

tillate slope and various other hydrocarbon compounds could be treated to produce any desired lighter conversion product. The de tails of construction of the apparatus could also be changed and I do not desire to limit the invention except as specified in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: 4

1. A. process of converting hydrocarbon which comprises the steps of heating and digesting the oil in a coil and enlarged chamher to the extent that the oil body attains a substantial. equilibrium prior to withdrawal of the products of conversion from the system, the enlarged chamber being situated outside of the heating zone and a body of liquid oil being maintained therein under pressure of gases and vapors evolved from the oil.

2. A process of converting hydrocarbon oils, which comprises heating and digesting the oil in a coil and enlarged chamber to the extent that the oil attains a substantial equilibrium prior to the withdrawal of the products of conversion, the coil only being heated, maintaining a body of liquid oil in the enlarged chamber under the pressure of gases and vapors evolved from the oil, and withdrawing products of conversion from the enlarged chamber.

3. A process of converting hydrocarbons,

which comprises heating and digesting the (iii in a coil and enlarged chamber, a body of liquid oil being maintained in the en- .the enlarged and vapors evolved from the oil and the enlarged chamber being situated outside of the heating zone, and withdrawing liquid and vaporous products of conversion from chamber through a common outlet.

4..-A process of converting which comprises heating and oil in a coil and enlarged chamber,

hydrocarbons, 'gesting the the coil only being heated, maintaining a substantial body of liquid oil in the enlarged chamber under the pressure of a substantial body of gases and vapors evolved from the oil to form liquid and vaporous products of conversion each containing substantial amounts of the constltuents of gasoline, and withdrawing the liquid and vaporous products of conversion from the enlarged chamber throu h a'common outlet.

5. K process of converting h which comprises heating and igesting the oil in a coil and enlarged chamber, the coil onl bein heated, maintaining a substantial b0 y of iquid oil in the enlarged chamber under a regulatedpressure of a substantial body of gases and va ors evolved from the oil to form liquid an vaporous products of conversion each Lcontamin substantial amounts of the constituents o gasoline, discharging the liquid. and vaporous products of conversion from the enlarged chamber to a still through a common outlet, and separating gasoline therefrom.

WALTER M. CROSS.

drocarbons, 

